Notes from SXSW: Yeah, Dog!

There were two gigantic lines in front of the Cedar Door last night at 11 o’clock. One, snaking off to the right, was for wristband-holders. The other, on the left, was for badge-holders. Austin natives and other “regular people” tend to buy wristbands, which cost between $139 and $180. Badges, which start at $500, are for professionals only. There are all kinds of humiliations for wristband-holders, but I’ve never seen anything like the apartheid system at the Cedar Door. Only badge-holders were allowed into the tent where Philadelphia’s Dr. Dog (pictured) was scheduled to play. Wristband-holders were confined to a bar on the other side of a fenced-in corridor. You could see them craning their necks for a glimpse of the band, while the badge-holders milled about in the half-empty tent.

Injustices aside, this was a great evening of music. Alabama’s AA Bondy warmed up the crowd with two Dylanesque finger-pickers, including “Vice Rag,” which begins with the words “Sweet sweet cocaine, won’t you be all mine?” Then “the Dog” took the stage. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part, but I believe this group could be the next Guided by Voices. They’ve got the Beatles-esque harmonies, the fondness for diminished chords, and the working-class credibility that helped make Bob Pollard’s Dayton, Ohio, outfit so beloved. Maybe someday “Yeah, Dog!” will be as recognizable as the great battle cry “G.B.V.! G.B.V.!”Earlier in the evening, we stopped by Emo’s again to see San Francisco’s the Dodos. These guys offered an intriguing answer to the question: how much of a racket can you make with an acoustic guitar and some drums? The compositions were complex, but the thumping beat made them go down easy.

In the other room, Toronto’s Crystal Castles were entertaining a large and enthusiastic crowd with FischerSpoonerish beats. The lead singer, Alice Glass, may not have been blessed with the richest voice, but she sure as hell looks good jumping around in front of a strobe light.